Temporomandibular Joint Disorder|Joint Pain Relief

Shingles symptoms often begin with a mild but persistent headache, sensitivity to light and flu-like sensations. Soon after, a rash begins to develop that can be accompanied by extreme pain in the rash area. Tingling and dizziness may be present.

As the pain intensifies, bright red lesions develop, which gradually fill with fluid. As soon as a crust forms over the blisters, the person is no longer contagious. These lesions most commonly develop over the torso and face, and usually confine themselves to one half of the body. Other symptoms that may be present are a feeling of general unhealthiness, lymphatic swelling, joint pain, hearing loss, abdominal pains or genital lesions.

Shingles treatment often involves treating the symptoms and letting the lesions clear up on their own, which they will do in two to three weeks with a very small chance of recurrence. Since the pain is sometimes very intense, it is often necessary to treat it with painkillers during a shingles episode. Sometimes steroids are prescribed for this end, but these have been linked to impairing the immune system and their helpfulness in shingles treatment has never been proven.

Calamine lotion is sometimes said to reduce the pain that is one of shingles symptoms. Vitamins C and E are also said to help relieve pain and speed the healing process; either a topical cream or an oral supplement may be helpful. Cool dressings on the affected area can also be incredibly effective shingles treatment. A topical ointment made out of two crushed aspirins and two tablespoons of chloroform has routinely been found to alleviate pain and speed healing by many people with shingles. Lysine cream is an amino acid which impairs the growth of the herpes virus which causes a shingles outbreak; application of a lysine cream once or twice daily may help your body heal faster.

Symptoms of shingles are often a sign that the body has been weakened by age, stress or other infection. Therefore, keeping your body healthy can reduce the risk of a shingles outbreak or speed up recovery. If you have been exposed to the chickenpox virus (through a vaccine or by coming down with chickenpox) then you are a host of the virus that causes shingle symptoms. It stays dormant in the body and may never impair you, until your immune system falters due to cancer treatment, fatigue or any other extreme stresses. It is then that it can flare up and reactivate, leading to an outbreak of shingles.

Eating a lot of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables can help keep you immune system strong enough to prevent reactivation of the virus, and consuming raw fruits and veggies during a shingles episode may speed the recovery process. Reducing stress and exercising regularly are also good ways to keep you immune system working hard for you and minimizing the likelihood of an outbreak and shingles symptoms.

If you think you have developed any symptoms of shingles, you should be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning any treatment.

This disorder puts incessant stress on your jaw. Learning the way to relax your jaw will help the agony to vanish fairly quickly. But this is typically simpler said than done. It's natural for you to tighten your jaw. Clenching your teeth is not unusual for folk with TMJ.

There are many home cures that you'll be able to find on the web. A mouth guard is just one of the possible solutions. In order to make this effective you'll be wanting to soak the mouth guard in hot water for a little while. It's best to use this method right before you go to bed at night and leave the guard in as you are sleeping. This is a useful method to eliminate the discomfort. There are a few things that you need to begin doing instantly like eating foods that are soft, taking small bites, stop dental gum, shifting sides that you chew your food and many others.

Searching the internet for different ways to dump the agony in your jaw will help you to uncover a range of techniques. Using warm and cold compresses will help in reducing the soreness in your jaw.

TMJ Jaw Pain Causes

Waking up with agony in your jaw, painfully chewing your food or merely severe agony in your jaw can be more than your willing to handle. There are a variety of causes, but often these are the most common causes - rheumatism, TMJ, sinus infections, ear illnesses and a spread of other minor causes. There'll be a range of symptoms that you'll feel if TMJ is the cause of your pain,eg ringing in the ear, sinus pressure, clicking in your jaw when eating, and headaches.

Going to a dentist and debating about the discomfort you are experiencing will help you to expose the underlying cause of your pain, which is the most effective way to help to find the correct treatment to get rid of or at the least scale back the level of distress or discomfort that you are experiencing. The dentist will examine your bite, and your teeth and debate a variety of issues with you like stress, food habits and your general fitness. The solutions to these questions will help them to reveal the cause of the pain in your jaw.

You may expose a spread of methods of treatments to relieve the discomfort like a hot or cold compress on your jaw will help to reduce the discomfort, using a mouth guard at night and soaking it in hot water for an extended period will help.

You'll learn about assorted other reasons behind jaw pain by doing a search on the internet, or by setting up an appointment with your dentist. You can read more about TMJ Jaw Pain Treatments [http://www.tmj.org/treatments.asp] here.

There are several natural remedies available which are worth investigating, ranging from self-help books to over-the-counter mouth guards. These inexpensive solutions are worth pursuing.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could take an eraser and rub out your pain?

Like a pencil mark on a paper, pain is very noticeable. But once you erase that mark, you can forget about it completely. It no longer grabs your attention. And when a pain goes away, we easily forget it was ever there.

But how can you erase a pain?

One way, which is probably the most popular one, is to mask the pain with drugs. But that does not really solve the problem.

Another, which is our subject here, is to remove the cause of the pain and then the pain must vanish.

The Cause of Joint Pain

In order to remove the cause of the pain, you must know the cause of the pain. And this is where it gets interesting!

You may think of the cause of your joint pain as an athletic injury or the repeated stress and microtrauma of sitting at a computer or standing for long hours. You may say you cannot undo the injury and you cannot go back and undo all your years of typing or working on your job. And you can't even stop now or you would lose your job. So how can you remove the cause of the pain?

The Hidden Cause

While you may not be able to stop or reverse the mechanical cause of your pain, there is another approach that can help. There is another cause of pain which usually goes undetected and unaddressed. It is a more subtle cause and so it requires a more subtle technique. But the results are often as dramatic as taking a painkiller.

This hidden cause of much of your pain is conflicted energy. Like static on a radio or a virus on a computer, energy conflict within a system causes that system to fail. It simply cannot function properly. But once you tune in that radio station or clean up those computer files, everything can go back to optimal functioning.

A Viable Alternative

There are many energy workers using a variety of techniques that can help you with your joint pain. They can open the way for true healing in your joints. Find someone who inspires confidence. You will probably do best when you work with someone with whom you resonate well. Once the dynamic life force flows through you in an unconflicted way, you may very well notice an instant diminishment of your pain. In time it can completely disappear. For some, this process is very fast. For others it can take an extended period of time.

Erasing the Pain

The joints of the body create the most exquisite movements of human expression. But when they hurt they can cause some of the most excruciating moments in your life.

When you seek out an energy worker to help you with your joints, you are not masking the pain. You are erasing the pain by correcting the cause. And when you're dancing again, you probably won't even remember the pain at all.

Jumping basically requires flinging you about on a trampoline the way children do. And this way you loose the weight as well. Not only is this but it's a great activity for blood circulation, varicose veins and cellulite.

Trampoline is basically a net bed or elastic canvas, a spring rubber suspension anchors the bed to a metal frame of table height & exercise kit is ready. Rebounding energizes the inner working of cell system and increases the blood circulation. It adds forces in vertical direction. Accelerate and decelerate to the gravitational pull.

As far as safety is concerned, this requires certain precautions to be followed every time a person rebounds. Otherwise, it's an enjoyable exercise for anyone.

It is a great full body's work out, along with being non-jarring to the joints. For example, if you exercise on a hard surface, a lot of forces go into the body. This is not always good for body joints and can cause painful joints. But with a trampoline, mats absorb any jerk and reduce any bad effect on knees and waist joints.

A trampoline exercise works like a vacuum. As vacuum cleaner creates a vacuum at the end of the hose, where air rushes into fill the space same way rebounding cells are forced to the bottom of the bounce, to squeeze the toxins, poisons and trash out from around the cellular tissue spaces, making it easy for lymphatic to vacuum them up and clean the body. As it is said, if the lymphatic function properly, we are healthy. Otherwise, we are prone towards being ill.

So what is the best way to use a trampoline? Just to have fun, what else? But if you really want to know what the best way is, here is it:

1. Concentrate on pushing down the balls of the feet.

2. going up is natural; you do not need to do anything.

3. Keep abdominal in and maintain the correct posture throughout the work out.

And you'll enjoy every moment spent on your trampoline, the healthier way.

The term bursitis simply means inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that provides a smooth motion for structures with uneven surfaces. There are a few different bursas found in the hip, the one that is injured the most often is the trochanteric bursa. This bursa is located between the bony structure on the outside of the hip or greater trochanter and the tendons that pass over this structure.

This bursa can become injured in various ways. It may be the result of direct trauma such as a fall or through repetitive friction from overuse or misaligned joints. Biomechanical problems such as a misaligned hip joint can result in abnormal tracking of the tendons over the bursa. If the foot is turned out, it can also affect the hip and result in bursitis.

Bursitis of the hip is often noticed when running, climbing up a hill or getting in and out of the car. The symptoms will frequently get worse over time. Pain is usually felt when pushing on the outside of the hip. The pain may also radiate down the outside of the thigh when the tendons and muscles of the leg become involved.

Poor posture, abnormal foot bio-mechanics, misaligned joints, tight muscles and nerve irritation may all play a role in bursitis of the hip. If treatment is not effective, one or more of these factors may need to be looked at more closely. If left untreated, scar tissue may develop over time which can complicate the problem.

The cause of hip bursitis may stem from a misaligned pelvis, hip or joint in the leg or foot which can alter the proper biomechanics of the hip. These can lead to functional changes of the hip resulting in inflammation of the bursa. Using cryotherapy or ice is important to help minimize the inflammation of the bursa. Rest is also important to allow healing and preventing more injury. Runners should avoid running on hard or uneven surfaces which may result in pressure on the bursa. Orthotics can help provide support for the feet and help to avoid abnormal bio-mechanics in the leg which leads to hip problems.

Chiropractors can provide a variety of effective treatment options to effectively manage the various root causes of hip bursitis. Chiropractic adjustments are effective to correct misaligned joints to help restore normal bio-mechanics in the leg and hip. This will help take abnormal pressure off the bursa and restore normal function.

Degenerative disc disease in neck is not actually a disease at all. It's a process that happens to everyone with aging. The spinal discs go through natural changes as we age. Degeneration of the disc usually happens in the lumbar area or in the neck, but it can occur anywhere along the spine.

When this process happens, the disc can cause pressure on the spine and the nerves and may affect nerve function and cause pain. Though this happens to all of us, most people won't experience pain.

What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease in Neck?

The discs are natural shock absorbers. As they break down with age, there's a loss of fluids makes the discs thinner and decreases the gap between the vertebrae. Muscle imbalances (one set of muscles over powering another) cause postural dysfunctions that increases wear and tear of the discs.

Eventually, the weak spot gives way and makes contact with the nerve, bringing pain. Except for cases of trauma, this process takes a long time before the pain begins.

Common Treatments and Why They Usually Fail

Common treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cortisone injections, ultrasound, hot packs, electrical stimulation, therapeutic exercises and surgery.

Common Treatment No.1 - Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs

This is usually the first treatment your doctor will recommend, in order to relieve the awful pain and even immobility that are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease. This step is necessary because you can't just live with this pain.

The problem

These drugs often cause unwanted side effects (acute liver failure, perforated ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, higher risk of heart attacks and more...); potential long-term kidney and liver damage and lastly they only treat the symptom so they don't provide a long-term solution to the problem. Who wants to take medication for the rest of their lives?

Solution

Degenerative disc disease in neck is not actually a disease at all. It's a process that happens to everyone with aging. The spinal discs go through natural changes as we age. Degeneration of the disc usually happens in the lumbar area or in the neck, but it can occur anywhere along the spine.

When this process happens, the disc can cause pressure on the spine and the nerves and may affect nerve function and cause pain. Though this happens to all of us, most people won't experience pain.

What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease in Neck?

The discs are natural shock absorbers. As they break down with age, there's a loss of fluids makes the discs thinner and decreases the gap between the vertebrae. Muscle imbalances (one set of muscles over powering another) cause postural dysfunctions that increases wear and tear of the discs.

Eventually, the weak spot gives way and makes contact with the nerve, bringing pain. Except for cases of trauma, this process takes a long time before the pain begins.

Common Treatments and Why They Usually Fail

Common treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cortisone injections, ultrasound, hot packs, electrical stimulation, therapeutic exercises and surgery.

Common Treatment No.1 - Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs

This is usually the first treatment your doctor will recommend, in order to relieve the awful pain and even immobility that are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease. This step is necessary because you can't just live with this pain.

The problem: these drugs often cause unwanted side effects (acute liver failure, perforated ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, higher risk of heart attacks and more...); potential long term kidney and liver damage and lastly they only treat the symptom so they don't provide a long term solution to the problem. Who wants to take medication for the rest of their lives?

Solution

Natural Pain Relievers have the same affect - without the side effects. Proteolitic enzymes treat systemic inflammation (inflammation causes the pain) and combining them with anti inflammatory herbs can relieve your pain without becoming addictive or damaging to your kidneys and liver. Make sure you consult with your doctor before taking them because they can't be taken along with some types of prescription and OTC drugs.

Common Treatment #2 - Cortisone Injections

Cortisone injections are a more aggressive way to treat the inflammation (than NSAIDS). For some people they just don't work. For others they do work but again, who wants to have cortisone injections for the rest of their lives?

The problem: Again, these shots only treat the Outcome of the disc problem and not the real cause of it - So you can expect the problem to continue in your future and possibly get worse.

Solution

The same alternative for NSAIDs - natural pain relievers. Same outcome - no side effects, no addiction and dependency.

Common Treatment #3 - Surgery

Surgery is also an option, with the two main goals being to take pressure off the nerve and stabilize the joints.

The problem: The major danger with any back surgery is the resulting scar tissue. It can cause more of a problem than you had before the operation.

All operations are a "crap shoot". Some work, and some don't. Some can leave you worse than you were before. First thing you can do is ask your doctors as to the odds of success for this particular operation. Next, try everything you can before deciding on surgery.

Solution

Degenerative Disc Disease in neck is a loss of height of the disc and combining multiple treatment approaches together in order to decompress and generate balance and stability in the spine is very important for long term results.

These are the treatments you can consider combining to finally get back to your pain free life.

1. Inversion Therapy can be very effective but it works even better when you also perform Muscle Balance Therapy.

2. Muscle balance therapy - This complete back pain relief system will show you how to identify the true cause of your pain. You will discover where you have muscle imbalances and what specific exercises to do - to fix the cause once and for all.

Ice and heat - Apply ice with the beginning of flare up (first 48 hours) and then heat to help control inflammation, stiffness and pain. This can be combined with natural enzyme therapy for maximum effect

A person can be afflicted with joint pain in one or more places in the body. In all its forms and causes, is always problematic to those affected by it. For them, home remedies can be a huge help.

Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in people over the age of forty-five and is the most common cause of joint pain. Vitamin E is mostly used to bolster the effect of vitamin C which is the main nutrient in trying to alleviate pain coming from osteoarthritis joints. The recommended dose is 400 IU a day.

Maintaining a diet rich in fiber also prevents and reduces joint pain brought about by osteoarthritis. Because fiber fills you up on fewer calories, you're less likely to overeat and cause weight gain, which is known to pose difficulties for people with osteoarthritis. Fiber also has anti-inflammatory effects which wards off osteoarthritis pain.

Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, can be your best friend in joint pain relief. They help draw out carbon, which is one of the body's waste products, through the skin.

Exercise is an important factor for relief, but if your exercise causes pain that lasts more than half an hour after exercising, you probably overexerted and you may be worsening your osteoarthritis. Reduce the frequency of your exercise and increase it gradually.

Joints that are non-arthritis in nature can be relieved using massage, stretching exercises, warm baths, and other home remedy solutions. Stretching techniques help after an attack of joint pain caused by bursitis, or inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion bony prominences.

For stiff shoulder joints, use the cat stretch. Doing a cat stretch involves getting down on your hands and knees, and then placing your hands at the front of your head. Keep your elbows stiff as you arch back gently and come down on your heels. Another stretching motion you can do is to stand facing a wall corner and walk your fingers up the wall in the corner. Try to get your armpit in the corner; this is how you know you're doing the exercise right.

Pain due to bursitis may also be treated with a castor oil pack when the pain is not acute anymore. To make this particular remedy, spread castor oil over your afflicted joint then put cotton or wool flannel over it and apply a heating pad. If a joint that has bursitis is hot, you can use ice on it, alternating 10 minutes of ice with 10 minutes of rest, then the ice again and so on.

An alternative remedy that can accelerate joint pain relief in bursitis cases when used with standard treatments is homemade balm made from a paste of water and turmeric powder. The balm can be applied once or twice daily.

Flaxseed oil can be used in bursitis joint pains. The thing that makes it great is that you can use it on salad dressings!

If your joint pain still bothers you for more than three days, home remedies may not be enough. It is therefore best to consult a medical professional.

Back problems are extremely common amongst Dachshunds. In fact, it is believed that Intervertebral Disc Disease is most prevalent amongst them, with an estimated quarter of the breed suffering from some form of spinal issue in the course of their lifetime.

What is Intervertebral Disc Disease?

The spine is made up of several vertebrae, which are separated by discs that act as shock absorbers. These discs, in their healthy state, have a jellylike center that is surrounded by toughprotective casing. Unfortunately, as the dog becomes older the discs lose flexibility and can become calcified.

Subsequently, the brittle discs can become herniated, rupture, or lodge into the spinal cord. Obviously, this is very painful for the dog and can ultimately result in paralysis. Invertebral Disc Disease is also known by its acronym IVDD, alternatively, it is referred to as a slipped disc, or simply called disc disease.

Why are Dachshunds Susceptible?

Tragically, in the quest to create differing breeds of dog, we humans have caused numerous genetic problems for many breeds. The Dachshund is just one such breed. The issue, which causes back problems in Dachshunds, is known as chondrodystrophy, which is an inherited condition that affects cartilage. Cartilage is transformed it into bone while the dog is still in the womb, causing dwarfism.

There are a number of chondrodystrophic breeds, including Basset Hounds, Bulldogs. All of these breeds are distinguishable by their short crooked legs. In addition, they all suffer with premature degeneration of the joints and vertebrae, which can lead to the aforementioned IVDD.

Symptoms of Invertebral Disc Disease

If you own a Dachshund, it is always advisable to watch out for symptoms of IVDD, because although it is more common in older dogs, it can occur at any age. However, typically, symptoms begin to present themselves when the dog is between the ages of 3 and 6 years. If your dog is suffering from IVDD, his, or her, symptoms may present themselves gradually or may suddenly appear very acutely. Things to watch out for include:

A hunched appearance when walking, which can be indicative if back pain.

Clumsiness or disorientation while walking.

Weakness in the hind legs.

Whimpering or yelping when the dog is lifted, again, this indicates that the dog has severe back pain.

Difficulty getting up from a lying position.

Difficulty climbing steps or stairs.

And, obviously, paralysis.

These symptoms can indicate IVDD, but they can also suggest other problems, such as a tumor, infection of the spine or other medical condition. Therefore, if your dog is experiencing any of the listed symptoms, he, or she, should be taken to a veterinarian who will perform a thorough examination to ascertain the problem.

How to Treat IVDD

If a dog's condition is recognized and diagnosed early, the prognosis for recovery is usually good. Often in mild cases, dogs with IVDD are prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and given strict rest to allow the spinal cord and discs to heal. In more severe cases, dogs with IVDD may need to undergo surgery in which discs are removed to give the spine an opportunity to recover.

Ways to Prevent IVDD

Although Dachshunds are genetically predisposed to the problem, there are still measures that owners can take to help their four-legged friend.

One of the principal exacerbating factors for Dachshunds is their weight. An overweight dog will have an even greater impact on an already fragile spine. Therefore, if you're worried about your Dachshund's weight, it is wise to seek the advice of a vet who will supply you with a diet plan.

It is good to ensure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise. However, rough play, jumping or any action that causes twisting motions should be avoided, as these will place further pressure on the spine.

Unfortunately, in our efforts to create designer dogs we have caused many medical conditions that cause great pain and suffering to our canine companions. Therefore, it is a good idea for all dog owners to assess their dog's risk of inherited problems.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is the one typically associated with aging. According to data compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIAMS), OA affects more than 20 million Americans.

OA is a disease due to abnormal cartilage metabolism. Cartilage is the connective tissue that lines the ends of long bones. It is tough gristly material consisting of a matrix of proteoglycans and collagen. Within this framework, cells, called chondrocytes, manufacture the matrix.

OA can be a result of genetics (there is often a family history), injury to the joint, and aging.

Weight bearing areas such as the spine, hips, knees, and the base of the thumb are the most common areas affected.

Symptoms of OA include joint pain, swelling, limited range of motion of the joint, and stiffness.

Treatment of this disorder has been largely aimed at symptom reduction. Among the various treatments used have been analgesics (pain killers), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which help reduce swelling and inflammation, injections of corticosteroid and viscosupplements (lubricants), physical therapy, and eventually joint surgery.

Different types of alternative therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicines, and supplements have also been used.

These treatments, while helpful for symptoms, do nothing to restore cartilage. The end result is that patients end up needing joint replacement.

More recently, there have been attempts to heal cartilage defects. Procedures that have been employed include:

1. Autologous chondrocyte implantation. In this procedure, cartilage cells are removed from a non-weight bearing part of the joint, arthroscopically, grown in a lab, and then re-implanted into the cartilage defect.

2. Mosaicplasty. Multiple cartilage plugs are harvested from a non weight-bearing part of the joint and inserted into the cartilage defect.

3. Microfracture. The cartilage defect has multiple small holes drilled into it to allow blood and a few stem cells escape into the defect and ostensibly grow cartilage.

While these procedures have been used for small isolated cartilage defects- mostly in athletes- none of these procedures has been used extensively for osteoarthritis. In addition, long term data regarding efficacy has been mixed.

So the problem remains... What can be done to restore cartilage?

The most promising approach appears to be the use of autologous stem cell transplantation. In this procedure, bone marrow harvested from the posterior iliac crest of the patient is concentrated to isolate stem cells. Then using a combination of platelet-derived growth factors, subcutaneous fat, and a few other ingredients, the stem cells are reapplied in a regional manner to treat the osteoarthritic joint.

It must be mentioned that the pain of OA is not due directly to cartilage loss. Rather the pain is a result of several factors including irritation of the joint capsule due to bony spurs, called osteophytes, as well as inflammation of the synovium, the lining of the joint.

However, there are significant barriers when it comes to the used of stem cells. First, patients need to be at or near ideal weight. Second, they must be in good physical condition. And lastly there are biomechanical factors that must be considered. For instance, the knee is not just a hinge joint that bends back and forth. There is also a gliding component as well as a rotation component with normal knee range of motion.

The hip is a joint that is capable of significant range of motion. Most osteoarthritis develops in the superior portion of the joint and that also makes the treatment approach difficult since there is a tremendous amount of load strain that accompanies weight bearing.

The upshot is that with cartilage deterioration, there are altered biomechanics that need to be taken into account when treating an osteoarthritic joint, whether it's the knee or the hip.

Limited weight-bearing after the procedure is critical and an early program of directed physical therapy is also required.

Attempts to normalize the abnormal biomechanics are critical.

While the early data for stem cell transplantation looks promising, longer term data, and continued improvements in techniques should improve the long term outlook for patients.

Of all the health problems that affect dogs, arthritis is one of the most common, particularly as they get older. It affects their joints, making them less mobile and giving them aches and pains in their limbs. Also known as degenerative joint disease, at its worst it can be utterly debilitating for dogs, leaving them unable to walk or stand up without suffering intense pain.

Arthritis is caused simply by wear and tear to the joints over time, and certain breeds of dog are particularly prone to it. These include Labradors, Alsatians and retrievers and other larger breeds.

The onset of arthritis partly has to do with the production of glucosamine. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance which gives shape, strength and flexibility to cartilage, ligaments, tendons and other tissues. In a young, healthy dog, enough glucosamine is produced naturally to keep their joints supple and flexible, but as they age the amount they can produce becomes less and less adequate, meaning the joints get stiffer and more painful.

For this reason, many arthritis treatments are glucosamine based, and serve to top up the dog's natural glucosamine. The glucosamine used in supplements usually comes from a substance called chitin found in crustacean shells. Arthritis medicines often mix glucosamine with other supplements such as chondroitin, which is another naturally occurring substance, and one which works in synergy with glucosamine.

Chondroitin is a vitally important component in cartilage; it provides strength and resiliency and helps to heal damaged cartilage. The chondroitin given for medicinal purposes can come from a number of sources, but derives mainly from cows or from marine sources such as whale and shark cartilage. It does not really matter where it comes from, as it will always do the same job of acting as an agent for rebuilding damaged cartilage.

Vets often recommend glucosamine and chondroitin to be given as part of a wider treatment program for arthritis. The program might also include a weight loss regime to reduce the amount of fat the dog is carrying around, and thereby relieving some of the stress placed on the joints. There is also likely to be some kind of exercise plan to ensure the dog does small periods of activity to keep them mobile without overdoing it and increasing their suffering.

Glucosamine and chondroitin can also be used in conjunction with some other medications, both herbal and drug-based. For example, if the natural route is taken they might be used alongside a course of mixed vegetable tablets, which soothe and relieve the aches and pains caused by arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin comes in a few different forms, but is most common in an uncoated tablet form, which means it can be easily crushed and added to food. When vets prescribe it for dogs, they generally recommend that it is given every day with 1 tablet for every 10kg of bodyweight. After the first four weeks the dosage can be reduced if the dog is showing signs of progress and increased mobility.